Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia (folk belief)

Kinabalu: Mountain of Spirits

Folklore — not a documented case

In Kadazan-Dusun belief, Mount Kinabalu is a sacred resting place for the spirits of the dead. The 2015 earthquake was blamed on spirits angered by disrespect at the summit.

At 4,095 metres, Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain on Borneo and in Malaysia. Rising in the state of Sabah, it is the centrepiece of Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its unique plant life. Thousands of climbers reach the summit each year.

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The stories in this section are folk tales and legends; they are not verified, real events and should not be confused with the rest of the archive.

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